Electric cord connector



April 17, 1962 D. R. KREBS ELECTRIC CORD CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 30. 1958Donald R. Krebs INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,030,601 ELECTRIC CORD CONNECTOR Donald R. Krebs,125 Denver St., Rapid City, S. Dak. Filed Oct. 30, 1958, Ser. No.770,760 2 Claims. (Cl. 33975) This invention relates generally toelectric extension cords of the type comprising a prong type plug ormale member and a socket or female member on one end for detachablyconnecting a pair of such cords, and has for one of its importantobjects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel meansfor preventing the accidental separation of said members.

Another very important object of the present invention is to providemeans for electrically insulating the extension cord connector.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide aninsulator and holder of the aforementioned character which will readilyadjust to accommodate extension cord connectors of various sizes.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an eX- tension cordconnector holder and insulator of the character set forth which will becomparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of lightweight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, showing a device embodying the presentinvention applied;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device, showingthe same in use;

FIGURE 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on theline 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a detail view in perspective of one of the resilientreinforcing clamps.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that referencecharacter 5 designates generally a conventional connector detachablyconnecting a pair of electric conductor or extension cords 6 at one end.The connector 5 includes the usual female member or socket 7 on one endof one of the cords 6 which is adapted to receive a prong type plug ormale member 8 on one end of the other cord 6.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustratedcomprises an elongated sleeve 9 of suitable rubber or other material,which sleeve is longitudinally split from end to end, as indicated at10. The sleeve 9 includes a relatively thin, elastic intermediateportion 11 and tapered or substantially frusto-conical end portions 12.

The sleeve 9 further includes, in the elastic portion 11 thereof, achamber 13 for the reception of the connector 5. Extendinglongitudinally into the sleeve 9 from the ends thereof and communicatingwith the chamber 13 are bores or passages 14 which accommodate theconductor cords 6. Of course, the bores or passages 14 and the chamber13 communicate throughout their length with the split in the sleeve 9.

Molded in the end portions 12 of the sleeve 9 is a pair of resilient,substantially C-shaped circumferentially extending wire clamps 15. Thewire clamps 15 are skeletonized and, as shown to advantage in FIGURE 3of the drawing, the ends of said clamps are located adjacent thelongitudinal walls of the split 10 in the sleeve 3,030,601 Patented Apr.17, 1962 9. Formed integrally with the sleeve 9 in one of the bores 14is a plurality of resilient teats or lips 16 for engaging, centering andretaining relatively small conductor cords.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from aconsideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the plug 8 is inserted in thesocket 7 for detachably connecting the conductor cords 6. The resilientsleeve 9 is then opened at the split 10 and applied in an obviousmanner, the chamber 13 receiving the connector Sand the bores orpassages 14 receiving the cords 6. The construction and arrangement issuch that when the device is thus applied the elastic intermediateportion 11 of the sleeve 9 is stretched and tensioned for holding themembers 7 and 8 tightly together, the end walls 17 of the chamber 13abutting the outer ends of said members. Also, the elasticity of theintermediate portion 11 of the sleeve 9 permits the device to readilyaccommodate various sizes of connectors. The resilient clamps 15 assistin closing the end portions 12 of the sleeve 9.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An insulator and holder for separable electric conductor cordconnectors of various lengths, said insulator and holder comprising: anelastomeric sleeve including a relatively thin, elastic, longitudinallystretchable intermediate portion having a chamber therein for thereception of the connector and of a length, when unstretched, less thansaid connector, said sleeve further including end portions engageableunder tension with the ends of the connector for yieldingly holding sametogether and having longitudinal bores therein communicating with thechamber for the passage of the cords, said end portions being relativelythick and of a substantial length to be gripped for stretching thesleeve for application to the connector, and resilient lips integralwith the sleeve in at least one of the bores for frictionally engagingand retaining the respective conductor cord, said end portions of saidsleeve still further being frusto-conical for riding over irregularitiesin a supporting surface when the sleeve is pulled longitudinally inopposite directions thereover.

2. An insulator and holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidsleeve is longitudinally split from end to end to facilitate insertionof the connector and the cords.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS868,460 LHoest et al. Oct. 15, 1907 912,778 Banes Feb. 16, 19091,620,933 Wilcox Mar. 15, 1927 2,229,849 Heidebrecht Jan. 28, 19412,267,630 Weiland Dec. 23, 1941 2,277,468 Welch Mar. 24, 1942 2,662,953Barker Dec. 15, 1953 2,667,906 Stiller Feb. 2, 1954 2,721,313 EnglishOct. 18, 1955 2,803,696 Hefner Aug. 20, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,839Great Britain Dec. 11, 1933

